Jonathan billboards destroyed in FCT
Abuja natives congratulate president-elect, make plea
Few days after President Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election bid, several billboards used for his campaign have been torn, defaced or destroyed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
As the outgoing President Jonathan’s billboards are decreasing in the FCT, posters of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo are, however, on the increase.
Daily Trust had earlier reported that there were more than 160 billboards in the FCT with majority of them sponsored by the Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN) and several other pro-Jonathan groups.
City News observed that the Jonathan billboards mounted within the city centre, Kado Estate roundabout, Lokogoma, Airport road, Bwari town and other places have either been removed or defaced.
Similarly, the billboard at the Utako motor park roundabout has been torn while the one at the turn to Sunny Vale Estate, Lokogoma District was defaced before it was removed on Wednesday.
Markus Yusuf, a resident of Lokogoma, said the billboards have not done what they were expected to do, adding that the sponsors and not the residents pulled down most of them.
Meanwhile, as the celebration continues in Abuja, tricycle, commercial motorcyclists and truck pushers were seen with their vehicles and motorcycles adorned with posters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and brooms chanting the ‘ change’ slogan. Many motorists also attached brooms to their cars in solidarity with the emergence of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as president-elect.
Yakubu Idris, a truck pusher at Kado Estate said the APC poster would be on his truck until the general is sworn in as president.
Adeyemi Moshood who tied a broom to his car’s windscreen, said he was happy with the outcome of the election, adding that he was ready to bear the consequences of his action if caught by the officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), because of the change in the leadership of the country he was celebrating. Natives of the Federal Capital Territory have congratulated the winner of the last Saturday presidential poll, General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, even as they tasked him on policies and programmes that would bring succor to them and Nigerians in general.
They also stated that they are prepared to support any minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration that will address the numerous challenges facing its original inhabitants.
Speaking to the media Wednesday in Abuja, the coordinator of Abuja Original Inhabitants Coalition Group, Engr. Danjuma Bussa, said that the natives of Abuja respect the outcome of the polls, adding that Nigerians have demonstrated through the ballot that democracy has come to stay in the country.
The natives also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat even before the official declaration of the presidential results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stressing that the president’s action was a clear demonstration of what they described as the spirit of sportsmanship and leadership by example.
“We, the Original Inhabitants Coalition Group sincerely congratulate the winner of the historic presidential election, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. We pray that his administration in the Federal Capital Territory will initiate policies and programmes that will bring succour not only to the natives but also to other Nigerians,” Engr. Bussa said.
While fielding questions from journalists on the sudden twist in the group’s earlier position, the spokesman said: “Democracy is about majority view. We supported President Goodluck Jonathan based on our conviction that he has done well for Abuja natives, but if majority of Nigerians through their ballots say otherwise, we have no choice than to support the incoming government for the unity and progress of the country.”
Bussa also used the occasion to commend the Prof. Attahiru Jegaled INEC for the peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections.